Stepner, Ferguson, Jotkowitz win 2025-26 JHA Awards

Frisch junior Isaac Stepner was named the 2025-26 Jewish Hoops America Player of the Year and Ramaz’s Scott Ferguson was the Coach of the Year.

The Underclassman of the Year was Amiel Jotkowitz of Maimonides.

Joining Stepner on the 1st Team All Jewish Hoops America were seniors Alex August of Berman H.A. and Sam Jacobson of Shalhevet and juniors Grayson Coleman of Milken and Simon Alloul of H.A. Montreal.

The 2nd Team includes seniors Solly Bielsky of Denver Jewish Day, Charlie Sassoon of North Shore H.A. and Judah Well of Ida Crown; and juniors Moshe Jacobs of Fuchs Mizrachi and Nir Ovaknin of Katz YHS.

The 3rd Team is seniors Caleb Gdanski of H.A. Miami, Gabey Spodek of DRS and Ari Varon of Tarbut vTorah and juniors Elisha Tsaidi of DRS and Max Weiss of SAR.

Stepner, the Underclassman of the Year in 2025, led the Cougars to a 19-6 record, the Sarachek Tournament final and #3 in the JHA National Top 25.

Jotkowitz averaged just under 20 points a game for the M-Cats. Other underclassmen considered were: sophomores Yaakov Lesnoy of Berman H.A. and Manu Wiebke of SAR; and freshmen David Albilia of Jewish Culture, Adin Goldsmith of Northwest Yeshiva HS and Zach Itskowitz of Hillel Pittsburgh.

Ferguson led Ramaz to the #6 ranking in the JHA National Top 25. Other coaches considered were Jarred Axon of Jewish Culture, Moshe Cohen of DRS, Ryan Coleman of Milken, Zac Katz of Fuchs Mizrachi, Jon Rich of Ida Crown and Lior Schwartzberg of Valley Torah.

1st Team All Jewish Hoops America

Isaac Stepner, Jr., Frisch/Paramus,NJ
Alex August, Sr., Berman H.A./Rockville,MD
Sam Jacobson, Sr., Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA
Simon Alloul, Jr., H.A. Montreal/Montreal,QB
Grayson Coleman, Jr., Milken/Los Angeles,CA

2nd Team All Jewish Hoops America

Solly Bielsky, Sr., Denver Jewish Day/Denver,CO
Charlie Sassoon, Sr., North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY
Judah Well, Sr., Ida Crown/Skokie,IL
Moshe Jacobs, Jr., Fuchs Mizrachi,Beechwood,OH
Nir Ovaknin, Jr., Katz YHS/Boca Raton,FL

3rd Team All Jewish Hoops America

Caleb Gdanski, Sr., H.A. Miami/Miami Beach,FL
Gabey Spodek, Sr., DRS/Woodmere,NY
Ari Varon, Sr., Tarbut vTorah/Irvine,CA
Elisha Tsaidi, Jr., DRS/Woodmere,NY
Max Weiss, Jr., SAR/Bronx,NY

Honorable Mention

Dvir Assayag Raham, Sr., Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA
Yitz Bennett, Sr., DRS/Woodmere,NY
Akiva Borgen, Sr., TABC/Teaneck,NJ
Cyrus Blumenthal, Sr., Jewish Day School/Rockville,MD
Samuel Chira, Sr., Magen David/Brooklyn,NY
Ezra Cutler, Jr., Gann/Waltham,MA
Meir Dan, Jr., Valley Torah/Valley Village,CA
Brandy Eber, Sr., Yavneh Dallas/Dallas,TX
Ari Halpert, Sr., SAR/Bronx,NY
Mica Hazan, Jr., Jewish Culture
Ashton Javaheri, Sr., Milken/Los Angeles,CA
Sam Jemal, Sr., Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY
Amiel Jotkowitz, So., Maimonides/Brookline,MA
Shilo Kahan, Sr., Jewish Culture/Fort Lauderdale,FL
Evan Kaufthal, Sr., Northwest Yeshiva HS/Mercer Island,WA
Toby Levy, Sr., Ohr HaTorah/Hollywood,FL
Nate Mirvis, Sr., Leffell/Hartsdale,NY
Rafi Miller, Sr., Beren Academy/Houston,Tx
Ronen Ousley, Sr., Rochelle Zell/Deerfield,IL
Elisha Pizum, Sr., Fuchs Mizrachi/Beechwood,OH
Akiva Ravin, Sr., Yeshiva Greater Washington/Silver Spring,MD
Aaron Romano, Sr., Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY
Jack Silberstein, Sr., San Diego Jewish Academy/San Diego,CA
Jacob Zackheim, Sr., CHAT/Toronto,ON
Chayim Zahtz, Sr., Fasman Yeshiva/Skokie,IL

Past Players of the Year

2025 Aiden Bitran, Shalhevet
2024 Jakob Wortman, Ida Crown
2023 Johny Dan, Valley Torah
2022 Johny Dan, Valley Torah
2020/2021 Albert Fallas, YULA/Zev Remer, Shalhevet
2019 Judah Oppenheimer, SAR
2018 Ryan Turell, Valley Torah
2017 Bryan Knapp, Jewish Day School
2016 Gabriel Leifer, DRS
2015 Josh Newlander, Chicagoland Jewish (Rochelle Zell)
2014 Josh Newlander, Chicagoland Jewish
2013 Zach Yoshor, Beren Houston
2012 Jack Gindi, YULA
2011 Yisroel Feld, MTA/Jack Gindi, YULA
2010 Eric Avdee, Tarbut vTorah
2009 Eitan Chemerinski, Jewish Day School
2008 Jordan Marcus, Schechter NJ (now Golda Och)
2007 Solomon Schoonover, Hillel Miami

Past Coaches of the Year

2025 Yonah Singer, Berman H.A.
2024 Ed Gelb, Maimonides
2023 Shalom Babayev, North Shore H.A.
2022 Lior Schwartzberg, Valley Torah
2020/2021 David Zimmerman, Yavneh Dallas
2019 Evan Pickman, Heschel
2018 Ryan Coleman, Shalhevet
2017 Mike Whiting, Milken
2016 Avrum Stein, DRS
2015 Joe Schwartz, Frisch
2014 Dwight Hollins, Fuchs Mizrachi
2013 Marty Dello, Chicagoland Jewish (Rochelle Zell)
2012 Richard Lewis, Cooper Memphis
2011 Rafi Halpert, SAR
2010 Patrick Roberts, Tarbut vTorah
2009 Elliot Steinmetz, HANC
2008 Howard Braun, Ida Crown
2007 Howard Braun, Ida Crown

Final 2025-26 JHA National Top 25

1.Milken/Los Angeles,CA…………………………….19-14
TieDRS/Woodmere,NY……………………………….28-4
3.Frisch/Paramus,NJ …………………….…….….…..19-6
4.Shalhevet/Los Angeles,CA…………………….28-12
5.Jewish Culture HS/Miami Beach,FL……..30-13
6.Ramaz/New York,NY……… …..………..….……..21-10
TieSAR/Bronx,NY………………………………………...24-11
8.Flatbush/Brooklyn,NY………………………………23-8
9.Magen David/Brooklyn,NY… …..………..…….21-9
10.North Shore H.A./Great Neck,NY ………..27-9
TieValley Torah/Valley Village,CA…………….26-10
12.Hillel/Ocean,NJ………………………………………..12-9
13.TABC/Teaneck,NJ … ….………..…….……………13-11
14.Ida Crown/Chicago,IL…………………….….…..27-4
15.Jewish Day School/Rockville,MD…………24-7
16.Fuchs Mizrachi/Beachwood,OH…………..18-9
17.Berman H.A./Rockville,MD…………………….26-14
18.Hebrew Academy/Miami Beach,FL………19-16
19.HAFTR/Cedarhurst,NY……………………………20-12
20.Gann/Waltham,MA………………………………….21-6
21.YULA/Los Angeles,CA ……………………………12-23
22.MTA/New York,NY…………………………………..12-13
23.Katz YHS/Boca Raton,FL………………………..17-16
24.Leffell/Hartsdale,NY…………………………………13-8
25.Northwest Yeshiva/Mercer Island,WA…..16-11
TieTarbut vTorah/Irvine,CA…………………………..10-9
TieHebrew Academy/Montreal,QB…………….9-10

Magen David Tournament - Quarterfinals

#1 Hillel 67 #8 YDE 37

Four players scored in double figures for the Heat (3-0), led by Jason Zekaria with 22 points. Abe Franco added 18 points and Joe Mizrahi and Aaron Gindi each had 13. Jackie Sayegh led the Thunder (1-2) with 10 points.

#7 North Shore H.A. 66 #2 Magen David 62

Justin Levian scored 23 points, Arieh Sanandaji added 20 and Rafi Ganjian had 17 as the Lions (2-1) avenged Sunday’s prelim loss and knocked the hosts out of their tournament short of the final for the second straight year. Soly Hasbani led a balanced attack for the Warriors (2-1) with 15 points. Jacob Bukobza added 13 points and Jacob Levy and Charles Sultan had 12 each.

#3 DRS 78 #6 Heichal 71

Elisha Tsaidi scored 23 points and Dani Gast added 22 to lead four players in double figures as the Wildcats (3-0) overcame a 47-point performance by the Hornets’ Akiva Jacoby. Daniel Greenberg added 14 points for DRS and Daniel Kahan had 12.

#4 Ramaz 62 #5 HAFTR 31

Noah Hiltzik scored 20 points and Leo Kasell added 13 as the Rams (2-1) were never threatened after jumping out to a 15-2 1st quarter lead. Zach Weiner led the Hawks (1-2) with 12 points and Asher Freundlich had 10.

Magen David Tournament - Preliminary Round

HAFTR 56 HANC 33

Asher Freundlich led the Hawks (1-0) with 16 points, Jake Zuckerman added 11 and Jakey Aron had 10. Yitzhaki Aharonoff and Elijah Friedman each scored 11 for the Hurricanes (0-1).

Hillel 57 HAFTR 25

Abe Franco led the Heat (1-0) with 10 points. Jakey Aron had 9 for the Hawks (1-1).

Hillel 62 HANC 42

Jason Zekaria paced the Heat (2-0) with 18 points and Joe Mizrahi had 15. Jonah Galanti had 12 points for the Hurricanes (0-2).

North Shore H.A. 67 Rambam 44

Arieh Sanandaji scored 20 points, Justin Levian added 12 and Liran Shenhav had 10 to lead the Lions (1-0).

Magen David 73 Rambam 20

Charles Sultan scored 13 points and Jacob Levy added 12 for the Warriors (1-0). Nate Cohen led the Ravens (0-1) with 8 points.

Magen David 67 North Shore H.A. 48

Soly Hasbani led the Warriors (2-0) with 17 points and Jacob Levy scored 14. For the Lions (1-1), Justin Levian scored 16 points and Rafi Ganjian had 11.

Heichal 46 Ramaz 45

Akiva Jacoby had 21 points for the Hornets (1-0) and Eli Wiederkehr had 15. Emanuel Kushner led the Rams (0-1) with 17 points and Noah Hiltzik added 12.

JEC 47 Heichal 46

Yoni Dubrow scored 13 points and Aharon Rozehzadeh added 11 for the Thunder (1-0). Eli Wiederkehr had 25 for the Hornets (1-1).

Ramaz 60 JEC 32

Emanuel Kushner had 12 points and Noah Hiltzik scored 11 as the Rams (1-1) qualified for the quarterfinals. The Thunder (1-1) lost out on the points allowed tiebreaker. Aaron Feuerberg had 14 points for JEC and Aharon Rozehzadeh added 10.

YDE 64 Barkai 43

Albert Savdie scored 19 points to lead the Thunder (1-0), Isaac Abadi added 16 and Allan Fallas had 14. Joe Dweck had 19 points for the Suns (0-1).

DRS 64 Barkai 54

Dani Gast scored 22 points and Daniel Greenberg and Asher Wigle each added 15 to lead the Wildcats (1-0). Eli Khalifie had 34 points for the Suns (0-2)

DRS 82 YDE 79

Elisha Tsaidi scored 53 points and Dani Gast added 11 to lead the Wildcats (2-0). For the Thunder (1-1), Albert Savdie had 32 points and Allan Fallas scored 22.

Seeds and matchups for Quarterfinals

#1 Hillel vs #8 YDE
#2 Magen David vs #7 North Shore H.A.
#3 DRS vs #6 Heichal
#4 Ramaz vs #5 HAFTR

Magen David Tourney Tips Off 2026-27 JHA Season

The 2026-27 Jewish Hoops America boys’ season gets underway Sunday with the annual Magen David Preseason Tournament, in memory of Elliot Torkieh, A’H.

Eleven Yeshiva League teams and Heichal will compete, with each squad playing two prelim games on Sunday to determine qualifiers and seeding for Monday’s quarterfinals. The semifinals are Wednesday and the championship game next Sunday, Oct. 18.

The teams are broken into four divisions, with top two teams in each division advancing.

D-1: Magen David, North Shore H.A., Rambam
D-2: Heichal, JEC, Ramaz
D-3: Barkai, DRS, YDE
D-4: HAFTR, HANC, Hillel

All games will be livestreamed. To follow the action and the full schedule go to:

https://www.magendavidyeshivah.org/mdyhs-preseason-tournament

Here is Sunday’s schedule:

10:00 am
HAFTR  vs   HANC

11:30 am
North Shore H.A.   vs   Rambam
Ramaz   vs   Heichal

1:00
Heichal vs JEC
HAFTR  vs  Hillel

2:30
Hillel vs  HANC
Magen David   vs   Rambam

4:00
JEC   vs   Ramaz
YDE   vs   Barkai

5:30
Magen David  vs  North Shore H.A.
DRS  vs  Barkai

7:00
DRS  vs  YDE

2026 JHA GIRLS CHAMPIONS

These teams won local, regional or state playoffs in 2024-25, with the winners of Jewish high school tournaments down below:

District 8-1A (Colorado): DENVER JEWISH DAY TIGERS

District 1A-15 (Florida): H.A. MIAMI WARRIORS

District 2A-8 (Florida): KATZ YHS STORM

Chicago Prep Conference (Illinois): IDA CROWN ACES

IHSA 1A Chicago Regional (Illinois): ROCHELLE ZELL TIGERS

Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (Maryland) : BERMAN HEBREW ACADEMY COUGARS

Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League A: FRISCH COUGARS

Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League B: SHULAMITH SHARKS

TOURNAMENT TITLES:

Glouberman (Shalhevet): SAR STING
Auburn Experience: FUCHS MIZRACHI MAYHEM
Weiner (Beth Tfiloh): TANENBAUM CHAT TIGERS
Sam Gyenes (Ramaz): NORTH SHORE H.A. LIONS
Israel Becker (CHAT): TANENBAUM CHAT TIGERS
Maimonides: SAR STING
HAFTR: BERMAN HEBREW ACADEMY COUGARS
Faye Comet/Harriet Stark (Fuchs Mizrachi): BERMAN HEBREW ACADEMY COUGARS
Hyman Galbut (H.A. Miami): SAR STING